In 1988, Clute was the target of an attempted recall by Harold Payne. The recall failed to qualify for the ballot.

In 1989, Clute was the target of five attempted recalls (the first led by Harold Paul Payne, Dennis E. Bransford, Brenton D. Glisson, Stephen T. Goodrich, and Harold Lee Dame, the second by Lee A. Rutledge, David W. Duncan, Clarence C. Martin, Robert Martin, and John Reinken, the third by HaroldP. Payne, John H. Bray, Ralph P. Mueller, Cecil L. Cook, and James R. Sandidge, the fourth by Lee A. Rutledge, Clarence C. Martin, Darrel W. Martin, Velma Berg, and Harold A. Berg, and the fifth by Lee A. Rutledge, Clarence C. Martin, Raynelle O. Martin, George Kallman, and Leonard V. Martin. The recalls failed to qualify for the ballot. This was the most recall attempts against an officeholder in a single year.

CLOSE CONTEST: Clute narrowly won a spot in the 2006 General election when he defeated Ron Oden by 88 votes (0.4%).